The city of Spokane has included money for a newly created annexation coordinator position in each of its past two annual budgets, but has yet to fill the job, and, given the weak economy, doesn't know when it will, its spokeswoman says.

"We have made no specific decisions about filling the annexation coordinator position," says city spokeswoman Marlene Feist. Considering the current economic conditions, the city is moving carefully with all new hiring, she says.

The city hasn't started recruiting for the planned hire, who will work in the city's public works division and also work closely with the planning, community, and economic development division, Feist says.

The idea of creating an annexation coordinator position surfaced during budget discussions by the City Council in the fall of 2007, as the 2008 city budget was being created. Money was added for the position for 2008, but no work had been done on a job description or decisions made on what department the position would be in. During 2008, the city determined the job would be a planner II position and would fall under the public works division. The position was again budgeted for 2009.

Feist says annexation is a time-consuming process, with a host of steps and required analysis, and it was determined that having an annexation coordinator would ensure the steps were completed and that any required analysis was done thoroughly. Having such a position would allow other city employees who currently end up doing some of that work to concentrate on their main jobs.

"We do need someone to manage these efforts and the multiple requirements and analysis that they require," she says. "We are simply working to determine the best time to move forward."

The annexation coordinator's job description includes preparing specific portions of the city's comprehensive plan, detailed neighborhood plans, annexation plans, and specific sub-area plans, as well as developing and coordinating the city's annexation program.